Tag Archives: buffalo bills

NFL, usfl

Hull, Kent (1961-2011)

Card: Bowman 1992
Acquired: Canton Acquisition 2012

Kent Hull flew under the NFL radar after he graduated from Mississippi State in 1983, but the New Jersey Generals of the USFL would be waiting to swoop him up. He’d block up front for Herschel Walker and Maurice Carthon, paving their way to 1,000+ yard seasons each in 1984, and then blocking for quarterback Doug Flutie in 1985. When the USFL ran into financial trouble the Generals and Houston Gamblers were merged. Jim Kelly was to be his quarterback with wide receiver Ricky Sanders, and coach Jack Pardee running the show in the prolific Run ‘N Shoot, but the league collapsed before it could take the field again.

Kelly and Hull were almost immediately reunited in Buffalo and both became instant starters helping to energize a once woeful Bills team. Buffalo quickly assembled talent and marched into the playoffs with their Hurry Up Offense. With the final piece assembled in 1989 in the form of future Hall of Fame runningback Thurman Thomas, the Bills reached the Superbowl an unprecedented 4 times during the 1990s. During that span Kent started 121 straight games at center, from 1986-1993, and retired after the 1996 season.

In addition to his 3 ProBowl appearances, Hull was named to the Bills’ 50th Anniversary All-Time team in 2009, and inducted into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame in 2002. Jim Kelly called him one of the finest players that he ever played with and his best friend. Considered a smart tactician, Hull called plays for the line and also was a team captain for 7 seasons.  Kent Hull passed away at home on October 18th, 2011 and is survived by his wife and two children.

Arena, College Football HoF, NFL

Spielman, Chris

Card: ProSet 1990
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home*
Sent:  9/2/11  Received: 7/8/12 (309 days)
* signing fee now of 20.00.

Chris Spielman was a fearsome linebacker that played for the Lions, Bills, and Browns during the 80s and 90s.  A tackling machine from Ohio State, he’s really remembered for his time in Detroit where he sucked up the middle of the field as Mike Cofer blanketed quarterbacks at OLB. A second round pick of the Lions during the 1988 draft, he’d be the 6th linebacker taken off the board, after Aundray Bruce went #1 overall.

After a rookie season that included a club rookie record 153 tackles, 7 blocked passes, and a fumble recovery, he’d be named defensive rookie of the year in 1988. Chris followed his 1988 season up with an equally impressive 1989, with another 125 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries, earning him his first starting Pro Bowl nod. Spielman wrangled in his second appearance by leading the Lions in tackles in 1990 (despite spending 4 weeks on injured reserve) with 108 tackles,2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and his first interception. 1991 culminated in an AP nod, as he lodged 126 tackles, a sack and 3 FFs. Despite leading the team in tackles in both 1992 and 1993 with 146 and 148 tackles respectively he didn’t get named back to the Pro Bowl until 1994 (124 tac, 3FF). 1995 saw a shift from left inside linebacker to middle linebacker for Chris, after the Lions converted to a 4-3, but he still managed to tally 90 tackles, 2 FF, 1 sack, and an interception.

Spielman signed with the Bills in 1996 and returned to his native position and true to form with 111 tackles. Injuries claimed half of Chris’ 1997 season and it’d be his last statistically. He’d attempt a comeback with the Browns in 1999 but elected to retire before the beginning of the season to take care of his wife who had been struck by breast cancer.

Of note, Chris is apparently one of the first high school athletes to appear on a Wheaties box, is the Lions’ All-Time leading tackler with 1,020 tackles, and is considered one of draft guru Mel Kiper’s more notorious misses.

Chris has climbed into the broadcasting booth since retirement and also as head coach of the Arena Football Columbus Destroyers in 2005.  Spielman was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009, and has a foundation for Cancer research, that he dedicated to his wife, who passed away of breast cancer in 2009. He also has written a book about his time with her entitled: “That is Why I am Here”. You can visit his website at: http://chrisspielman.com/index.php

I wrote him last year after seeing some very short responses on sportscollectors.net for quite a few cards, so after I didn’t hear back from him after a few weeks I sorta gave up on this one. It was nice to finally get an autograph back from him 311 days later, but it disheartened me to see that he enclosed a pricing list. Apparently Chris has been getting a lot of requests, and can not honor them anymore for free. He has some very stringent rules on the mailings, but guarantees that they will be signed by him. You must also enclose $20.00, but thankfully since I sent mine last year, it didn’t apply to me, and he signed a card for free and returned the rest. Can’t knock a gift horse in the mouth though, and the fact remains that he was a player that I wanted, and happy to add to my Hall of Fame.

G/Gs 148/148    Tac 1181     Sac 10.5     Fum 13       Int 6      Yds 36     Avg 6.0      Td 0     lg 13

NFL, usfl

Cribbs, Joe

Card: Upper Deck Legends 2006
Acquired: 4/9/12, Target Authentic Memorabilia Autograph Edition

Auburn is a college that cranks out quality runningbacks. Among them Joe Cribbs, was a second round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 1980. He’d get the starting nod on offense for the team, and end up running away with NFL rookie of the year honors after a banner season, rushing for 1185 yards and 11 touchdowns. Cribbs earned a ProBowl nod after the season. Cribbs earned another ProBowl nomination for his 1981 season rushing for 1097 yards. A strike shortened 1982 limited Joe to only 633 yards, but he’d lead the league with a 90.4 yard average per game. His final Pro Bowl season in 1984, saw him rack up 1131 yards on the ground.

Well in 1984 Cribbs decided to hop ship for the new USFL, which led to an infamous trial in Buffalo, where head coach Kay Stephenson claimed that Joe was not replaceable in the team’s lineup. Cribbs ended up winning, despite the Bills’ claims of first refusal on the contract, and played for Birmingham Stallions for the next 3 seasons till the USFL imploded. Returning to the NFL in 1986 Joe played for the 49ers through 1987, then played his final season split between the Dolphins and Colts in 1988.

After football Cribbs returned to Alabama, where he went into financial advising. He currently assists many players with the reality of retirement and investing. He also has been involved with the AAFL (Team Alabama), and the United National Gridiron League.

G/Gs 102/70   Rush  1309    Yds  5356       Avg 4.1      Td  27      lg  62   |
Rec  224    Yds 2199   Avg  9.8      Td  15     lg 65